The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) are joining forces at the Living Data 2025 conference in Bogotá, Colombia, to highlight how coordinated, holistic, sustained, and effective ocean observations are crucial for advancing our understanding of marine biodiversity and ecosystem trends, assessing progress towards global conservation goals, and informing adaptive management strategies.
Biodiversity and ecosystem data are key to understanding how marine life responds to climate change, pollution, and other growing pressures. Yet, global access to standardized, long-term biological data remains limited. GOOS and OBIS aim to bridge this gap through an integrated, community-driven approach that connects observing networks, researchers, and data users worldwide.
GOOS and OBIS at Living Data 2025
Session: A Global Ocean Biodiversity Observing System supporting governance framework implementation
21 October 2025 | 11:15 – 12:45 | Ballroom B1
Effective monitoring is crucial for advancing our understanding of marine biodiversity and ecosystem trends, assessing progress towards global conservation goals, and informing adaptive management strategies. In support of international governance frameworks — most notably the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea’s Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement — this session will explore how data, observation systems, and international collaboration can underpin robust and inclusive biodiversity monitoring efforts across all ocean domains, including areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).
By showcasing advances in marine biodiversity monitoring and data management, this session aims to foster communities of practice that can support effective science-policy interfaces and accelerate implementation of global ocean governance frameworks.
See all the OBIS sessions at Living Data 2025 at a glance here.
GOOS Biology and Ecosystems Essential Ocean Variables
At the heart of GOOS lies an important organizing principle: the Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs). The GOOS EOVs are defined as the minimum set of ocean variables needed to assess ocean state and variability for important global ocean phenomena, and to provide essential data for applications that support societal benefit.
GOOS currently defines 36 EOVs, 12 of which are Biology and Ecosystems (BioEco) EOVs — from marine phytoplankton and zooplankton, to seabirds and marine mammals. These are selected by experts of the GOOS Biology and Ecosystems Expert Panel based on their direct impact on public safety, economic development, and environmental health, and their feasibility to be measured globally in a sustained and cost-effective way.
Find out more about the GOOS BioEco EOVs and their connection to Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) in these infographics and join the upcoming GOOS BioEco EOV Webinar Series to learn about standardized monitoring of EOVs, and their importance for ecological forecasting, management and decision making.
About OBIS
At the forefront of global efforts to monitor marine life, the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), a program component of IODE within IOC, is powered by a community of more than 6,000 scientists worldwide. OBIS integrates local input into the global data stage. It connects local contributors to major biodiversity frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, ensuring their datasets gain visibility, recognition, and impact while retaining ownership. Using cutting-edge tools like environmental DNA, animal tagging & tracking, AI-powered imaging, and advanced models, the OBIS Community delivers trusted, ready-to-use biodiversity data to support critical conservation goals, such as the “30×30” Target.
Adding marine life to global ocean observations
OBIS works with GOOS to ensure that marine biodiversity data flows seamlessly from local observations into global systems, making them accessible to all. The 12 Biology and Ecosystems Essential Ocean Variables (BioEco EOVs) and observing communities coordinated by GOOS provide the core observations needed to monitor and manage biodiversity, from mangroves to microbes. By integrating the BioEco EOVs from local sources into a global, quality-controlled, standardized system, OBIS provides a data backbone that makes the biodiversity-related EOVs measurable and comparable at a global scale.
GOOS BioEco Metadata Portal
The GOOS BioEco Metadata Portal, supported by OBIS, ensures open access to metadata on the sustained biological observing programmes collecting the Biology and Ecosystems Essential Ocean Variables (BioEco EOVs) around the world. The BioEco Metadata Portal enables us to begin to visualise where sustained observations of the BioEco EOVs are taking place across the world.
The portal can be used to locate observing programs and data, and to support and enhance planning and collaboration.
Add your BioEco EOV observing program to the GOOS BioEco Metadata portal here.